Kill Highlights: Exorcised a sorcerer’s hungry ghost, killed a Horseman of the Apocalypse, punched England’s most powerful necromancer in the face, executed various pesky demons, ghosts, and zombies, managed to escape from a prison in Hell

Enemies: The three Princes of Hell, Nergal, god of plagues, most of the white-magic magicians in England, the neighbors (because of the smells)

I don’t fight if I can avoid it. Why would you? If you’re smart, you don’t have to fight. And I’m smart. Clever. Devil-clever. I can figure you out before you know what you’re about, and by the time you throw the first punch, I’m already gone, so much smoke on the wind.

I mean, if I have to mix it up, I have tricks. A few here and there, up my sleeves. I can paralyze you, I can set the place alight, or make you forget your own name, all without touching you. You don’t want to get too close, because if we touch skin on skin, you might get a look at something you’ll be having nightmares about every time you shut your eyes. Being a psychic isn’t good for much, but for getting a leg up in a fight? It’ll do.

If you’re human, I might have to resort to fetching you a punch if the magic doesn’t work. But it always works. I’m good at what I do.

If you’re not human, you and I probably don’t get along. And don’t think I won’t exorcise you back to beyond the beyond, with a smile on my face. I’ve done it before, and to better than you. I don’t care if you’re a demon, an angel, or a glitter-encrusted vampire. Don’t mess with me, and I won’t trifle with you.

There’s a reason my name is spoken in hushed tones among the evil, the depraved and the just plain nasty monsters among us. They’re you’re nightmare, a sneaking shadow at the edge of your vision. But even monsters are afraid of the Boogeyman.

Caitlin Kittredge is the author of both young adult and adult fantasy novels and short fiction, including the Black London series and the acclaimed Iron Codex trilogy, hailed as “the next Hunger Games”. She’s in the process of writing Running With the Devil, a novel featuring many of the characters from “Born Under a Bad Sign”. You can find her daily ramblings and occasional fits of geekery on Twitter, and more information about all her books at her website.

Subterranean Press is proud to present Caitlin Kittredge’s first novella-length foray into her Black London series, with an all-original tale of dark magic and darker shadows.

Jack Winter used to be a bad man, but he left black magic and wickedness behind him for a simpler life exorcising ghosts in London. Then Fiona Hannigan, the girl he abandoned to a life of depraved sorcery, turns up murdered and it’s not long before Jack finds himself accused of the crime, along with three other slayings. Someone is hunting London’s black magicians–and they’ve decided Jack is going to pay the price.

Running from the police and pursued by his own ghosts, Jack must go back to the supernatural underworld he left behind to find who wanted Fiona dead, who framed him for the deed and why the spirit of Aleister Crowley is turning up in his living room. Because it’s not just Jack’s ghosts who are running free in London–older, darker spirits are stirring, and the same person who murdered Fiona has their sight set on performing a binding ritual to gain unimaginable power. Jack’s out of options and out of time, and his past may be the only thing that can save him…if he can survive the trip.

Jack definitely for me. I love his character -faults and all. Caitlin does an exceedingly good job in character development. I have read all of the Black London works out including the latest release and am impatiently waiting for more lol.